Area Youth Prepare Gift Boxes for Worldwide Distribution

Local youth spent last night filling shoeboxes with gifts for distribution around the world through Operation Christmas Child. (ABOVE) Christian Beers, Danna Baker, and Madison Strotman;

Armstrong County church groups and civic clubs are filling shoeboxes with gifts that will be distributed as Christmas presents to children around the world.

The program, Operation Christmas Child, is a division of the humanitarian organization called Samaritan’s Purse. It was founded by the Franklin Graham, son of noted evangelist Billy Graham. Shoeboxes are sent to children in remote areas of the world. The delivery ranges from being airlifted by cargo planes, to being shipped by donkeys. Many of the children are not familiar with the custom of giving gifts at Christmas. For many of them, this is the first time they have received a gift of this magnitude. For some, their life consists of trying to stay alive day to day.

Operation Christmas Child has a volunteer collection center located in the rear of 140 South Jefferson Street in Kittanning. It is open now through Sunday beginning at 9AM until 3PM.

Three teens completed filling their shoeboxes with goodies for less-fortunate children. The three girls are (L-R) Becca Beers, Tomi Foster, and Tina Beers.

Many area churches have participated in past years by collecting completed shoeboxes from members of their congregation. They are then brought to the collection center and boxed in large shipping containers as they prepare for their journey.

On Sunday afternoon, all of the boxes are loaded on a tractor trailer donated by Bud Trucking and shipped to Indiana, PA. They join with boxes from Indiana County and continue their trek to Boone, North Carolina where the boxes are organized for shipment to various countries.

The collection center typically receives about 2,500 shoeboxes per year. As of last night, the count was 1,426.

Brochures that give instructions packing items in your shoebox are available at the collection center. For more information, contact the collection center at 724-548-8000, Extension 8500.

Kittanning Hockey Kicks Westmont

The Kittanning Hockey team won over Westmont Tuesday night with a score of 8-3.

Running up points for Kittanning were: Ryan Toy (1 assist), Heinz Koster (3 goals, 3 assists), Hunter Grafton (1 goal, 1 assist), Cody Toy (1 goal), Christian Miller (3 goals, 3 assists), and Eli Johns (38 SOG) (35 Saves).

With Kittanning starting the season with 1-0, their next game will be tonight, Thursday, November 3, at the Belmont Complex beginning at 8:15.